PLAYER BIO

Professional History

2015-16 (CHICAGO): Appeared in 66 games (38 starts) and averaged 11.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.89 spg and 0.70 spg in 24.9 mpg … shot .407 from the field, .390 from downtown and .807 from the line … had 21 games this season with 3+ 3PM … hit 7 shots from distance on 4/13 vs. PHI en route to 32 points (tied season-high 10 FGM) and posted career-high 5 steals and tied season-high 3 blocks … had back-to-back games with 28 points off the bench at IND (3/29) and at HOU (3/31) … scored a career-high 35 points (20 in the 4th quarter) and tied franchise record with 9 3PM vs. NYK (3/23) … dished career-high 7 assists on 1/1 vs. NYK … had back-to-back games with double digit rebounds on 12/10 and 12/12 for the second time in his career … grabbed 11 rebounds in 14 minutes vs. LAC (12/10) – the shortest amount of time it’s ever taken him to collect 10+ boards … suffered concussion and facial laceration after 5 minutes of play vs. DEN (12/2), but returned to action the next game … scored his 1,000th career point at IND (11/27) … recorded first double-double of the season at PHI (11/9) with 20 points and 10 rebounds … hit at least 3 3-pointers in the first four games of the season, and that streak of four such games matched the longest for the Bulls since Derrick Rose did so from 1/14 to 1/19 … his 14 3PM to start the season were the most by a Bull in the first five games since 1985-86 … had five double-doubles this season … missed 16 games due to appendicitis and hematoma removal from 1/25 to 3/2.

CAREER: In two NBA seasons, has played in 148 games (41 starts) and has averaged 10.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.7 bpg and 22.3 mpg, and shot .406 from the field, .355 from three and .804 from the free throw line … has also played in 11 playoff games (no starts) and averaged 5.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.5 bpg, 14.9 mpg and shot .303 from the field, .233 from downtown and .800 from the line.

2014-15 (CHICAGO): Appeared in all 82 games (three starts) his rookie season and averaged 10.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.66 bpg and 0.66 spg in 20.2 mpg … shot .405 from the field, .313 from downtown and .803 from the line … earned Kia Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for December and March … was selected to the World Team at All-Star Weekend in New York, where he finished with 16 points (6-9 FG, 4-6 3FG) and 4 rebounds in 20:36 … led the team in scoring 10 times and in rebounds five times … ranks 3rd all-time in the Bulls rookie record books with 99 3PM, 3rd in 3FGA (313), 5th in DREB (341), 6th in FTM (228) and 8th in FT% (.803) … scored in double digits 40 times, including 11 games with 20 or more points … posted eight double-doubles … recorded 24 points (8-15 FG) vs. NYK (3/28) … tied his then-career high with 29 points against TOR (3/20) … recorded 26 points (14-16 FT) vs. OKC (3/5) … scored a then-career-high 29 points (11-23 FG) to go along with 9 boards vs. LAC (3/1) … posted 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds vs. MIL (2/23) … recorded 27 points, highlighted by a 6-for-6 effort from 3-point range at MEM (12/19) … finished with 13 points, 8 boards, 5 blocks and 2 steals at BOS (11/28) … recorded the first double-double of his career with 24 points and 11 rebounds at POR (11/21). 2015 PLAYOFFS: Appeared in 11 games off the bench … averaged 5.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.55 spg, 0.55 bpg and 14.9 mpg … scored 12 points and snatched 8 rebounds in Game 3 vs. CLE (5/8).

EUROLEAGUE: He was a back-to-back winner of the Euroleague Rising Star Award (2010-11 and 2011-12), which is awarded to the league’s best player under 22 years of age … also named to the 2012-13 All-Euroleague Second Team and named the 2014 Spanish Cup Final MVP … he helped Real Madrid CF win the Spanish National Championship in 2012-13, added the 2012 and 2014 Spanish National Cup (King’s Cup) and guided Real Madrid to the 2012 and 2013 Spanish Super Cup.

REAL MADRID: In five seasons with Real Madrid CF, he saw action in 97 Euroleague games (71 starts) and posted averages of 13.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.76 spg, 24.2 mpg, .498 from the floor, .402 from behind the 3-point line and .848 from the free throw line. 2013-14: Played in 31 games (31 starts) and averaged 12.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.06 spg, 24.0 mpg, .508 from the field, .461 from behind the arc and .811 from the line. 2012-13: In 29 Euroleague games, he netted 11.4 ppg and 5.3 rpg and shot .551 from the field and .325 from downtown … set Euroleague career highs with 31 points and 11 boards against Zalgiris Kaunas (3/7). 2011-12: Upped his scoring average to 12.5 ppg and grabbed 4.5 rpg in 16 games … shot .573 from the field and .439 from deep. 2010-11: In his first season with Real Madrid’s senior team, he averaged 6.6 ppg and 3.3 rpg in 20 Euroleague contests … shot .500 from the field, including .387 from behind the arc. 2009-10: Spent the season with Faymasa Palencia in Spain’s LEB Gold competition … in 31 games, he tallied 8.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 0.80 bpg in 20.3 mpg … shot .346 from downtown. 2008-09: Played for the junior team again and posted 14.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 1.20 spg in 25.8 mpg over 25 games in LEB Bronze … dressed for Real Madrid’s senior team, where he played in five ACB regular and postseason contests and totaled four points in 17 minutes of play … played in one Euroleague game, where he played two minutes against F.C. Barcelona. 2007-08: As a member of the junior team, he averaged 9.8 ppg and 5.7 rpg. 2006-07: Was a member of Real Madrid’s Junior Team (Under 20 circuit).

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Selected in the first round (23rd overall) by the Houston Rockets in the 2011 NBA Draft (6/23/11) … traded by Houston, along with Brad Miller, a future first-round draft pick and cash considerations to the Minnesota Timberwolves, in exchange for Jonny Flynn, the draft rights to Donatas Motiejunas and the Timberwolves’ 2012 second-round draft pick (6/23/11) … traded by Minnesota to the Chicago Bulls, in exchange for the draft rights to Norris Cole (28th overall), the draft rights to Malcolm Lee (43rd overall) and cash considerations … signed by Chicago (7/18/14).

Personal

PERSONAL: Full name is Nikola Mirotić Stajovic (KNEE-coal-uh MIR-oh-tich) … he and his wife, Nina, have one son, Alexsej … was an early-entry candidate for the 2011 NBA Draft … participated in the Basketball without Borders Europe camp in Turkey in 2008, as well as the Basketball without Borders Europe camp in 2007.